🌌 Deep‑Sky Object Calendar for Switzerland (46°N)

Best targets per month — galaxies, nebulae, clusters.

❄️ January — Winter Nebula Season

• Orion Nebula (M42)

• Horsehead & Flame Nebula

• Running Man Nebula

• Rosette Nebula

• Pleiades (M45)

❄️ February — Late Winter Emission Nebulae

• California Nebula

• Cone Nebula / Christmas Tree

• Monkey Head Nebula

• Medusa Nebula

🌠 March — Galaxy Season Begins

• Bode’s Galaxy (M81)

• Cigar Galaxy (M82)

• Leo Triplet

• Pinwheel Galaxy (M101)

• NGC 2903

🌌 April — Early Galaxy Peak

• Whirlpool Galaxy (M51)

• Sombrero Galaxy (M104)

• Needle Galaxy (NGC 4565)

• Markarian’s Chain

• Black Eye Galaxy (M64)

🌌 May — Peak Galaxy Season

(Also the start of Milky Way core visibility in Switzerland — peak season May–August.)

• Sunflower Galaxy (M63)

• M94

• Whale Galaxy (NGC 4631)

• Hockey Stick Galaxy (NGC 4656)

• Globular Cluster M3

☀️ June — Globular Clusters + Early Summer Nebulae

(Milky Way core visible ~10–11pm; excellent but short nights.)

• M13 Hercules Cluster

• M92

• M5

• Lagoon Nebula (M8)

• Trifid Nebula (M20)

🔥 July — Peak Summer Nebula Season

(Milky Way core highest of the year.)

• Eagle Nebula (M16)

• Omega Nebula (M17)

• Cat’s Paw Nebula

• Dark Nebulae in Scutum

🌌 August — Peak Nebula Season (Long Nights Return)

(Milky Way still high and bright.)

• North America Nebula

• Pelican Nebula

• Veil Nebula Complex

• Crescent Nebula (NGC 6888)

• Sadr Region

🍂 September — Autumn Nebulae + Galaxy Return

(Milky Way core sets early; late‑season window.)

• Andromeda Galaxy (M31)

• Triangulum Galaxy (M33)

• Pacman Nebula

• Bubble Nebula

• Heart Nebula

🍁 October — Faint Nebulae & Edge‑on Galaxies

• Soul Nebula

• IC 342

• NGC 891

• NGC 7331

• Stephan’s Quintet

❄️ November — Galaxy Season Returns

• M31 Andromeda

• M33 Triangulum

• NGC 1023

• M74

• NGC 891

🎄 December — Orion Complex Season Begins Again

• Orion Nebula

• Horsehead & Flame

• M78 Reflection Nebula

• Monkey Head Nebula